Your CRC branch of UCU says

‘VOTE YES’!

What is my ‘yes vote’ for?

We want you to vote YES on the current e-ballot on pay, workload & a demand for the sector to return national binding pay bargaining.

Where / how can I vote?

You should have received numerous reminders to vote from UCU national by now which include your link to vote. If you haven’t received your link you can request a replacement here replacement e-ballot request form.

Enough is Enough!

At our branch meeting last week, it was felt that members are angry at the current situation of low pay and high workload and that this is the time to express that as a national unified union of all colleges rather than in local areas.

What is the ballot about?

1. Pay and Workload – Real-terms pay in FE has been shrinking for years and the cost of living crisis has made it even more urgent that we secure a fair deal. We also want colleges to address the unsustainable workloads we face
2. We are Stronger Together! We are calling for a new approach to national negotiations with FE employers.  You can read more about this below.
3. Strike Action – Just to clarify, you are not being asked to vote on taking strike action now. This is a consultation to inform the union whether there is enough support for a future national ballot on strike action. It is important to understand, however, that if you vote YES in this ballot then UCU would be relying on you to support a formal ballot for strike action later if it was needed.

Want more detail?

The results of the e-ballot along with various motions will be debated at a Special FE Sector Conference of all FE Branches in England on April 1^st. Voting will then take place to decide on the strategy moving forward.

What is the difference between national and local bargaining?

Currently we negotiate directly with our local CRC Senior Management Team on any pay offer using the agreed national pay claim as the AoC is a recommendatory body only. If the ballot result /Sector Conference decision (based on the ballot result) is to have a national action strategy we will not discuss or vote on any individual offer from CRC SMT but will defer to the national negotiations.

We appreciate that this is a complicated situation so we would recommend that you read the FAQ’s which cover the majority if not all the questions on the ballot. You can access them here

read the Respect FE e-ballot FAQs

Please take the time to read them and …

Make your voice heard by voting!